Fire Prevention Week 10/5/2014 - 10/11/2014

HISTORY OF FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

The Great Conflagration

On Oct. 9, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire started. This tragic fire killed about 300 people, left 100,000 homeless and destroyed more than 17,000 structures.

One popular legend claims that Mrs. Catherine O'Leary was milking her cow when the animal kicked over a lamp, set the O'Leary's barn on fire and started the fiery conflagration. The city of Chicago was fast to rebuild and soon began to remember the event with festivities. The Fire Marshals Association of North America believed the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should be observed in a way that would keep the public aware of the importance of fire prevention.

On Oct. 9, 1911, was the first National Prevention Day. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first national Fire Prevention Day proclamation. By 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week, which was Oct. 4-10, 1925. He noted that in the previous year approximately 15,000 lives had been lost to fire in the United States. President Coolidge's proclamation stated, "This waste results from conditions that justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater part of it could and ought to be prevented.... It is highly desirable that every effort be made to reform the conditions that have made possible so vast a destruction of the national wealth."

National Fire Prevention Week is always the week in which Oct. 9 falls. Each year, a specific theme is chosen and is commemorated throughout the United States.

It was like a snowstorm only the flakes were red instead of white.

Besides the fact that the Great Chicago Fire started around 9 o'clock on Sunday evening, October 8, 1871, somewhere in or very near the O'Leary barn, the exact particulars of its origins are unknown. But, given the dry summer and the careless way the city had been built and managed, a kick from a cow would have been sufficient but by no means necessary to burn Chicago down. As A.T. Andreas, the city's leading nineteenth-century historian, put it, "Nature had withheld her accustomed measure of prevention, and man had added to the peril by recklessness."

For additional information

Siemens Building Technologies-Fire Business Unit

Industry Affairs Team

Dan Finnegan   daniel.finnegan@siemens.com    630.240.4328

 

 

Stat-X First Responder® saves Mobile Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

January 7, 2014

  Stat-X First Responder® saves Mobile Home:

  

Claremont, New Hampshire-Fireaway Inc. is pleased to announce another success story!

Fortunately, the fire department's staff car was equipped with a Stat-X First Responder® when the Claremont Fire Department was alerted to an interior mobile home fire.  The first fire fighter on the scene surveyed the area and immediately deployed the Stat-X First Responder in the old, lightweight, combustible mobile home.  The fire was contained until the fire engine arrived with water.  The unit suppressed the fire and made the home interior safe for operation when the fire truck arrived on the scene. Without the Stat-X First Responder the fire would have been "out-of-hand" when the fire truck arrived.

The Stat-X First Responder performed as advertised according to Chief Bergeron, Claremont Fire Department.

About Stat-X First Responder

The Stat-X First Responder® is a hand deployed aerosol generator that is used by emergency first responders. Stat-X First Responders® are highly-advanced condensed aerosol fire suppression solutions. The aerosol agent that is used in these robust generators is eco­ friendly (zero ozone depletion, zero atmospheric life, and insignificant global warming potential) and non-toxic.  These units are deployed in the toughest conditions worldwide, including manholes, domestic fires, and many industrial applications.

Stat-X is manufactured by Fireaway Inc., an ISO 9001-2008 certified company with production facilities in Minnetonka, Minnesota and Minden, Louisiana. All products are manufactured in the USA using the highest quality construction materials.  Inquiries may be made by mail, phone or email.   Please visit our website, www.statx.com, for further information or to locate a certified distributor in your area.

Hiller Systems is an authorized distributor of Stat-X products.  Learn more about Hiller Systems by visiting our website at www.hillersystemsinc.com or visit our Hiller Shop at www.hillershop.com!

Safe Awake - New Product Announcement

In response to the new requirements of NFPA, the Safe Awake provides a unique alerting capability for awakening the deaf, profoundly deaf and hard of hearing individuals when a smoke alarm is activated.

NFPA 72 now requires the use of TACTILE NOTIFICATION DEVICES, such as the Safe Awake, in sleeping areas, including hotels, dormitories, assisted and independent care facilities, and certain rental properties.

The patented 6” by 3” product simply plugs into any 120V electrical bedside outlet and is placed on a bedside nightstand or mounted on a wall adjacent to the bed.   It is equipped with a battery backup system which provides power in the event of a power failure.   It’s speaker emits a high decibel, low frequency audible signal  and a flashing indicator light.   The tactile stimulating bed shaker fits directly under the mattress.

For More Information, Contact Kim Boice @ (757) 549-9123 or Kim.Boice@hillerva.com!

Hiller Systems Receives Training Recognition

By:  Mark Herzog

On May 8th, 2011, Hiller Systems was awarded a commemorative plaque, recognizing 20 years of commitment to the Robert E. Rumans Hampton Roads Firefighting Symposium. Hiller has been involved in the Marine Firefighting Symposium since its inception in 1991. Hiller’s contribution involves an overview of fixed firefighting systems and equipment, including function and emergency operational procedures. Our trailer-mounted Fixed Carbon Dioxide System discharge is a perennial favorite of the class attendees who hail from both coasts of North America, South America, Panama, Singapore and Europe. Originally, Mark Herzog was the instructor, with those duties being handed over to Dave Faller many years ago. Hiller Systems is proud to be a part of one of the only Marine Firefighting courses of its kind. The Symposium was named posthumously for Robert E. Rumens, who was one of the original founders of this valuable training course.

The Robert E. Rumens Hampton Roads Firefighting Symposium was sponsored by:

• Virginia Port Authority/MIRT (Marine incident Response Team)

• Virginia Department of Fire Programs

• Virginia Maritime Association

• Ft. Eustis Fire Department

• Maritime Administration

• Norfolk Fire Rescue

• U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Hampton Roads

• U.S. Navy Fleet Training Center Fire School, Norfolk, VA

• Military Sealift Command

• Tri-State Maritime Safety Association

• Hampton Roads Fire Chiefs Association

This course is designed to familiarize land-based firefighters and Maritime personnel on procedures necessary to handle a marine incident within a port or waterway. This course meets NFPA 1005 standards, is ProBoard and IFSAC certified.

Course Topics included:

• Vessel Construction

• Vessel Safety

• Firefighting Tactics

• Incident Management Procedures

• Vessel and Terminal Operations

• Vessel Firefighting Systems

• Legal Issues

• Live Firefighting Evolutions

• Waterborne Exercise

• Practical Workstations

• Vessel Tours

• Review of Past Incidents

• Contingency Planning

• WMD/Hazmat Incidents

For more informaiton about this or other marine fire fighting applications, contact us today at

Securiplex Receives USCG Water Mist Certification for 3000m3 System

Securiplex, LLC, a United States based manufacturer of Water Mist Fire Protection Systems (an earth friendly [green] alternative more traditional fire protection systems such as CO₂, FM200 or Novec 1230), with headquarters located in Mobile, Ala. recently was awarded ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) and  United States Coast Guard certification for the high pressure Water Mist fire protection systems to protect spaces up to 3000 m3.  Securiplex had previously received certification for SOLAS which is required for all Local Application Systems.  Securiplex fire protection systems have been installed on a number of United States commercial and Naval vessels.  All Secruiplex systems are completely and totally designed and manufactured in the United States.

The Securiplex FIRE-SCOPE® 5000 Water mist fire protection system can solve your fire protection needs across a number of platforms spanning the industrial, commercial, mining, marine, chemical, and other markets. If you would like an alternative to CO2, FM200, sprinklers or even Novec 1230, water mist offers
advantages than no other fire suppression system can offer! 
 
With the oldest reputation for water mist fire protection in North America, Securiplex has set the standard against which all other manufacturers in the industry are measured. We achieved the first FM approved water mist fire protection system in North America. Our water mist system tested at US government laboratories has shown that we surpass all other major manufacturers in extinguishment times by several orders of magnitude in many cases. 
 
Learn more about Securiplex, LLC or learn more about this specific application here.
 
Hiller Systems is a proud authorized distributor of Securiplex products.  Contact your Hiller Systems Sales Representative today to learn more about this eco-friendly fire protection solution.

Hiller Systems & Extreme Makeover: Home Addition

Businesses all over Hampton Roads pitched in and donated time, food and resources to the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that was filmed recently in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Hiller Systems was no different.  Our employee's donated a total of 108 lbs. of food and one of our employee's even participated in the week long build of the new house for Beverly Hill, Fred Burdette and their six adopted daughters.

Trademark Construction of Chesapeake Virginia took the lead on the build and took the family's modest home, pictured here:

and turned it into this spacious and comfortable home for the family:

Beverly Hill is known in Hampton Roads to have a heart of gold. She has been sharing her love for over 15 years and has helped raise 35 foster children, according to a press release from Extreme Makeover. A friend of the family nominated the family last year after the TV show announced it was looking for a deserving family in southeastern Virginia.

"Giving back to the community that helped build our business is only right.  I am very proud of the Hiller Systems employee's who donated their time, food and energy to this project.  It truly exemplifies what Hiller Systems stands for", said Mark Herzog, Vice President and General Manager of the Hiller Systems Inc. Chesapeake, VA branch.

Hiller Systems was very proud to participate in this event.  The episode will air in a few weeks and we look forward to watching the week come together and see how we helped a most deserving family benefit from the kindness of strangers the way others have benefited from their kindness and goodwill.

Hiller Systems Supports Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center Emergency Management Fair

Hiller Systems, your premier Fire Protection and Security Solutions provider, presents: "Hiller Systems Supports Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center Emergency Management Fair". - Article written and submitted by Mike Glover and Teresa Rosen.

Recently, DePaul Medical Center of Bon Secours, conducted an Emergency Management Fair to better prepare the Bon Secours employees and their families for disasters in the Hampton Roads area.  Hiller Systems was invited by Michael Craig, Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Management to assist in putting this fair on.    

Pictured here:  Teresa Rosen and Michael Craig

The fair was a great success.  The employee's of Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center learned a lot about how to prepare and react to natural and man made disasters here in Hampton Roads.  Hiller Systems was proud to be a contributing member of this worth while cause.

If you have any questions or would like to talk to someone about having a display at your Health care event or facility, please contact Teresa Rosen with the following contact information: